First Posted: 12/11/2014

THIS WEEK: Dec. 17 to 23, 2014

Open Skate, the 11th annual event with doors open for public ice skating at the Mohegan Sun Arena, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township. 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 17. Admission: an unwrapped toy or $5 donation to Toys for Tots. No skate rentals at the Arena but limited skates available ($3) at the Toyota SportsPlex on Coal Street in Wilkes-Barre. 570-970-3507.

Paint Your Own Ornament, an art session with wine sipping. West Pittston Library, 200 Exeter Ave. 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18. $5. 570-654-9847.

Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem, the annual German-style holiday marketplace with works by the nation’s finest artists along with live music, glassblowing, food booths, Breakfast with Santa and a Gingerbread House exhibit. ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 21. 610-297-7100 or christmascity.org.

Parade of Trees, holiday trees decorated by area organizations. Vote for your favorite for $1. Grotto Pizza, 3445 Lakeside Drive, Harveys Lake. Through Dec. 31 with hours daily from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. 570-639-3278.

Holiday Film Festival, a screening of “Holiday Inn,” the 1942 musical starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. 2 p.m. Dec. 19. Free. 570-823-0156.

Christmas Candylane, holiday festivities at Hersheypark in Hershey with two million twinkling lights, more than 30 rides for all ages, the Music Box Christmas Show “Up on the Rooftop,” breakfast and lunch with Santa, Hershey Sweet Lights Drive-Thru Spectacular, Noel (with 150,000 lights synchronized to Christmas music), Santa’s Reindeer Stables, holiday storytime, ice skating and choral groups. 5 to 10 p.m. Dec. 19; noon to 10 p.m. Dec. 20; noon to 9 p.m. Dec. 21; 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 22 and 23. Continues through Dec. 31. $12. Info at hersheypark.com.

Holiday Light Show, a drive-through display of more than 100 lighted structures depicting scenes of the season. Horse-and-wagon rides dependent upon the weather. Refreshments available. Nay Aug Park, 1901 Mulberry St., Scranton. 5 to 9 p.m. nightly through Jan. 2. 570-348-4186.

Model Railroad Open House, a custom-built layout depicting Lehigh Valley’s Hazleton Branch passing through the towns of Weatherly, Cross Creek, Ashmore, Jeddo, Drifton and Eckley along with a model of Hazleton in the 1940s and ’50s. Anthracite Model Railroad Club, 1057 Hanover Court, Hazle Township. Through Jan. 4: noon to 7 p.m. Saturdays; 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Free but donations accepted. Details at amrclub.org.

Model Railroad Open House, an HO-scale, 2000-square-foot layout modeling northeastern railroads from various eras. Hudson Model Railroad Club, 97 Martin St., Hudson. Noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 4. Free but donations accepted. See hudsonmodelrailroadclub.com.

Christmas in the Park, a Santa Parade along Kosciusko and Green streets to Patriot Square followed by Santa visits, horse-drawn wagon rides, cookies, hot chocolate, hot dogs, caroling and goody bags for the kids. Dec. 21 with the parade at 1 p.m. followed by the party. 570-735-2800.

Hanging of the Greens, a family program with each decoration representing a part of the Christmas story. Also: a Christmas concert by singer Sue Yurkanin and refreshments. St. John’s Lutheran Church, 231 State St., Nanticoke. 6 p.m. Dec. 21. 570-735-8531.

Christmas Tree Decorating Contest. Vote for your favorite tree decorated by city community groups. Nanticoke City Hall, 15 E. Ridge St. Through Jan. 5: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays (except holidays). $1 per vote. Proceeds benefit Toys for Tots. 570-735-2800.

FUTURE

Christmas Together, the 37th annual holiday dinner open to all along with an afternoon of music and entertainment. First Presbyterian Church, 97 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. Noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 25. Reservations: 570-824-2478.

Holiday Film Festival, a screening of “Christmas in Connecticut,” the 1945 romance starring Barbara Stanwyck. Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. 2 p.m. Dec. 26. Free. 570-823-0156.

One More Row, a knit-and-crochet group for all ages. Osterhout Free Library, 71 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. 10:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 27. 570-823-0156.

First Night Scranton, the family-oriented, alcohol-free patriotic-themed celebration of arts and culture with live music, dancing, interactive performances, horse-and-carriage rides, bingo, magicians, ventriloquists, jugglers, balloon artists, face painters and more performing in venues throughout downtown Scranton. Culminates with a fireworks spectacular at midnight. 3 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Dec. 31. Schedule at firstnightscranton.com. $10, $5 seniors and members of the military. 570-344-1967.

New Year’s Eve Party, with hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, dinner, dancing to the music of Groove Train and a champagne toast at midnight. Irem Clubhouse, 64 Ridgway Drive, Dallas. 7 p.m. to midnight Dec. 31. $40. Reservations: 570-675-1134, ext. 100.

Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the country with nearly 6000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 300 commercial booths along with youth livestock shows, cooking demonstrations, horse and tractor pulls, rodeo finals, a food court and more. Farm Show Complex, North Cameron and Maclay streets, Harrisburg. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 10 to 16; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 17. Free but $10 parking. 717-787-5373 or farmshow.state.pa.us.

A Downton Abbey Holiday, a luncheon of soup, fresh greens, tea sandwiches, biscuits and scones to celebrate the premier of the fifth season of the PBS program following the ups and downs of the British aristocracy. Frederick Stegmaier Mansion, 304 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre. 2 to 5 p.m. Jan. 11. $38. Reservations: 570-332-4250.

Martin Luther King Jr. Program, honoring the services and contributions of the civil rights leader. Snyder and Walsh Rooms, Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center, King’s College, Wilkes-Barre. 11 a.m. to noon Jan. 19. Free. 570-208-5900.

Snowflake Gala, a benefit for Leader Dog for the Blind sponsored by the Eynon-Archbald Lions Club. With cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, open bar and entertainment. Fiorelli’s, 1501 Main St., Peckville. 6 to 11 p.m. Jan. 31. $75. 570-470-7838.

AMSOIL Arenacross, arena-based, off-road motorcycle racing competition with two main events during each night of action. Mohegan Sun Arena, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township. 7 p.m. Feb. 6 and 7; Amateur Day at noon Feb. 8. $35, $20, $10; $15 on Sunday. 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.

The Great American Outdoor Show, a nine-day event celebrating hunting, fishing and outdoor traditions with more than 1000 exhibitors. Also: country concerts, speakers, archery competitions, celebrity appearances, seminars and more. Farm Show Complex, Cameron and Maclay streets, Harrisburg. Feb. 7 to 15 with hours 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays. 800-672-4868.

Candy, Cards and Confections Workshop, a morning of making chocolate-covered treats, Valentine cards and more. Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, 347 Quiet Valley Road, Stroudsburg. 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 7. $30. Reservations: 570-992-6161.

Harlem Globetrotters, the comic hoopsters in a game against the Washington Generals. Mohegan Sun Arena, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township. 3 p.m. Feb. 22. 800-745-3000.

Monster Jam, the edge-of-your-seat motor-sports show with 10,000-pound monster trucks including Grave Digger, Backwards Bob, Sonuva Digger, Thrasher, Crushstation and Stinger. Mohegan Sun Arena, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Township. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28; 2 p.m. March 1. 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.

An Evening of Fine Food and Wine, samplings of food-and-wine pairings offered by area restaurants. Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington Ave. 5:30 p.m. April 26. Reservations: 570-344-1111.